Middle East crisis live: US military launches strikes against Iran in retaliation over attacks on commercial vessels

Iran accuses US of 'major violations' of memoradum of understanding

Iran’s foreign ministry has accused the US of “major violations” of the Islamabad Understanding which had been signed by the two sides last month.

In a statement, the ministry vowed to “take whatever measures it deems necessary to safeguard its national interests and security”.

It said: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns the treacherous action of the United States in revoking the suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil sales, which constitutes a violation of Paragraph 10 of the ceasefire understanding dated 28 Khordad 1405 (18 June 2026), and holds the US government responsible for the consequences of this breach of commitment.

“Over the past 20 days, the United States has repeatedly committed both minor and major violations of various provisions of the understanding, either directly or through the actions of the Zionist regime against Lebanon.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, while warning against the consequences of the United States’ breaches of commitment, declares that it will take whatever measures it deems necessary to safeguard its national interests and security.”

There have been explosions in several areas in the south of Iran, according to local media.

Several explosions have been reported in the port city of Sirik, near the Strait of Hormuz, while six projectiles reportedly struck the area of Taheroui Pier.

Explosions were also heard in Qeshm Island, the largest island in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz, and Bandar Abbas.

Earlier in the day, Qatar warned Iran it will bear full legal responsibility after three tankers, including a Qatari LNG vessel, were struck within hours in the strait of Hormuz.

All three were hit close to Oman, which had suggested a new shipping corridor close to its coastline – a proposal Iran opposes as it wants to charge ships to use the waterway.

Iran blamed the US for the incident, saying Washington’s efforts to open up new routes through the strait constituted a breach of the memorandum of understanding the two parties had signed.

Tehran claims the memorandum is specifically worded to leave it, in consultation with Oman, to manage the reopening of the strait with the aim of commercial traffic returning to prewar levels within 30 days.

At a briefing in Tehran, foreign ministry officials insisted Iran had a right to impose fees on all ships using the strait.

US military launches strikes against Iran in retaliation over attacks on commercial vessels

The ⁠US military has launched a series of strikes against Iran, ⁠US Central ⁠Command said ​Tuesday, adding that the strikes were in response to ⁠what it said were Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were ⁠transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

“U.S. Central ​Command forces ‌have begun launching ‌a series of powerful strikes against ‌Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping,” a US military statement said. “Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of ‌the ceasefire.”

It was unclear what specifically the U.S. ​targeted but Iranian media said six projectiles hit the area of Taheroui pier in Sirik in southern Iran. This marks ⁠the first known US military strikes ​against ​Iran since late last ​month, when there were several ​days ‌of strikes and ​counterstrikes ​between the two.